United Streaming, Discovery Education: Schools Use Technology in Learning

For Traditional and Home Schools

Lyn Lomasi
With advances in technology, come changes in the way children are educated. Information Weekly discusses Arcadia Middle School and the many options it has tried, including United Streaming. In fact, schools across America are utilizing United Steaming. United Streaming connects to Discovery Education Streaming, which provides streaming interactive lessons to classrooms.

Discovery Education Streaming is a video-on-demand service for schools. According to the Discovery Education website, over half of schools located in the United States have made use of this innovative learning concept, in conjunction with their existing plans. Schools can purchase a yearly subscription for classroom use by teachers.

There are a few things that set United Streaming apart from other educational videos. For one thing, Discovery Education Streaming goes straight to the classroom on demand without the hassle of buying and storing countless videos.

Another thing that's different about United Streaming is that it is the only digital service of its kind to show scientific proof of an increase in the achievement of students. Discovery Education Streaming covers curriculum in all six K-12 core subjects.

In June of 2008, MMI Schools had mentioned the goal of Discovery Education Streaming to have 5,000 videos in their library by December of 2008. It is now nearing the end of October and that goal has already been met with Discovery Education Streaming. Those who choose Discovery Education Streaming Plus benefit from even more streaming content.

School Districts, such as Humble ISD in Texas are reaping the benefits every day. The Humble ISD website proudly displays an invitation to teachers to utilize the Discovery Education center.

Some reading this may be wondering, "What about homeschoolers?" That was my first thought as well, being a mother who chooses to homeschool her children. It looks as though homeschools can also benefit from this program, if they so choose.

Since a homeschool would likely have less students than a traditional school, the yearly subscription price for homeschools is significantly lower than the traditional school price. This allows homeschoolers a fair chance at experiencing this technology as well.

Sources:

United Streaming

http://www.unitedstreaming.com

Discovery Education Streaming

http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm

Discovery Education

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/products/homeschool/

Information Week

http://www.informationweek.com/news/business_intelligence/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=211600207

MMI Schools

http://www.mmischools.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=13764

Humble ISD

http://www.humbleisd.net/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=56492

Published by Lyn Lomasi - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle

Lyn's the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network. Contact her with community issues & ideas. She's been contributing since 2007 and previously acted as a Community Guide. Read her tips for success...   View profile

19 Comments

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  • Nannette Richford 12/31/2008

    Unitedstreaming is fantastic. It provided me with lots great video for the classroom when I taught ancient history. It has some neat stories for Pre K, too. They loved "reading" books on my computer. :)

  • Dolli Latham (Dotchi) 11/18/2008

    Cool! This sounds really interesting.

  • Rebecca Rosenburg 11/2/2008

    Great info! I'm going to try the 30 day free trial to see how it works for our homeschool!

  • Momie Tullottes 11/2/2008

    Thanks everyone. I agree Michael. I see this as more of a supplemental resource - not a sole curriculum.

  • Michael K. Miller 11/2/2008

    The homogenization of curriculum through technology is not a panacea - for anything. There is no universal curriculum. Technologically infused instruction can serve to standardize core frameworks and provide a resource base for advanced subjects and laboratory work. However, universal content and methods are not a replacement for instructor-lead and student-directed learning at the local level. Learning is an individual student and community process and product. Education, as government and other services, must be locally defined, delivered, and assessed.

  • jcorn 11/2/2008

    Another option for both homeschoolers and those in other types of educational settings.

  • Will N. Stape 11/2/2008

    A brand new school was built in my neighborhood - the scale, look and overall modernity of it is startling. They have all sorts of satellite dishes & TV cameras built-in around the walls & entranceways. It truly looks more like a corporate office bldg than school. It occurred to me how much schools are now being transformed by technology. Great article!

  • Carol Bengle Gilbert 11/2/2008

    This could be a nice complement to other educational methods if not overused.

  • jobythebay 11/2/2008

    Really interesting - ten years from now I think the whole system will look very different.

  • Julia Bodeeb 11/2/2008

    Very interesting info. Too many schools alas still don't have much technology.

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